Kids on free or cheaper lunches have soared in many Lake schools

I was just looking at some data the Lake County school district sent me on the number of kids who get free and reduced-price lunches. The number has risen considerably in some schools.

Throughout the district, 53 percent of children qualify for free or reduced-price meals, according to a tally taken in late October. That's up from 46 percent the same time last school year.

About 17,100 Lake County kids eat for free compared with 14,200 students in 2008-09.

Several Lake schools serve communities where at least 80 percent of the kids need help paying for breakfast and lunches served in the campus cafeteria. Among them are Beverly Shores Elementary, Eustis Heights Elementary and Mascotte Elementary.

Eustis Heights saw one of the largest increases in the district. The kids qualifying for financial help there rose from 74 percent last year to 82 percent this year. But Rimes Early Learning Center and Alee Academy, a charter school, really saw their numbers jump.

At Rimes, 69 percent of youngsters now get help paying for meals, compared with 53 percent last year. At Alee, 66 percent qualify - up from 50 percent.